The incoming administration of President-elect Tsai Ing-wen is set to respond by Monday at the latest about whether there are plans to attend the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva in late May.
A long-delayed invitation had fired speculation that China was hoping to thwart Taiwan’s hopes of participation just days after Tsai’s inauguration later this month. That’s because Tsai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has long been seen as wary of China.
But speculation tapered off after it was announced that an invitation had indeed been sent. Now there is new concern that the invitation contains language that the DPP is not happy with, including references to the UN resolution that paved the way back in 1971 for the “China” seat in the UN to be taken from Taipei and given to Beijing.
Incoming national security officials have been discussing their plan of action, with the WHA’s deadline for online registration coming this Monday. Reports say the incoming administration is leaning towards attending. Incoming Cabinet spokesman Tung Chen-yuan says he has not yet received any information, but a decision will be announced on Monday at the latest.
Meanwhile, the legislative committee on foreign affairs has called the current heads of the Mainland Affairs Council, the National Security Cuoncil, as well as the health and foreign ministries, to answer questions about the matter on Monday.